User:Trygveolson

Trygve Olson (b 1967) is a Washington, DC, based political and public affairs consultant who works primarily with the Tea Party Faction of the Republican Party He currently is a Principle and Founder of Viking Strategies. He has recently gained prominence through his role as a Senior Advisor to the Presidential Campaign of Congressman Ron Paul.

Early Life
Olson was born and raised in River Falls, Wisconsin. He attended River Falls Public Schools. After graduation he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he graduated with a degrees in English and Economics. While at UWEC he became active in politics in response to a change in Wisconsin drinking age from 19 to 21 years old. He managed several state legislative level campaigns while still in college and continued to do so after graduating in December of 1990.

Career
Olson's first real job in politics was in the summer of 1990 when he was hired to work as a Staff Assistant in the Congressional office of former Wisconsin Congressman, Steve Gunderson. Olson decided to return to Wisconsin and eventually took positions working for several Wisconsin State Senators who were seeking re-election. He also was assigned as part of a campaign team, as Deputy Campaign Manager, which elected David Zien to a seat in Eau Claire and Chippewa County which gave Republicans a majority in the State's upper Chamber for the first time in twenty one years.

In the fall of 1995, Olson was working for former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor, Scott McCallum's office, when he was approached about taking a three week leave of absence to work as a volunter running a get out the vote program for you in Poland. The program was being conducted by the International Republican Institute and begin a long association between Mr, Olson and the organization.

During the 1996 election cycle, Olson was named campaign manager for former Wisconsin State Senator James Harsdorf's campaign to replace Gunderson in Wisconsin's third congressional district. After launching the campaign, Congressman Gunderson, who had pledged multiple times that he would retire, anounced he was reconsidering.